Controlling and regulating system for dynamos



W. J. RICKETS.

CONTROLLING AND REGULATING SYSTEM FOR DYNANIOS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 14,1929.

1,437,36 1, Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

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r A TTOR/VEYS To all whom it may concern:

Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

UNITED STATES" WILLIAM JOHN RICKETS, LONDON, ENGLAND.-

CONTROLLING AND REGULATING SYSTEM FOR DYNAMOS.

Application filed April 14, 1920. Serial No. 373,764.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. Rroxn'rs,

' a subject of the Kingjof Great Britain, and

- ing V0 and a second or plate elementof the valveresident of London, ngland, have invented a new and Improved Controlling and Begu lating System for Dynamos, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates generally to 'improvements in controllin and regulating systems for dynamo electric devices to effect a substantially vconstantvoltage at and above certain critical-speeds, and under varying loads More particular1y,'this invention relates to a thermionic means of efiecting the control and regulation of dynamo electric machines.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a-means of controlling and regulating dynamo electric devices by utilizing the properties of a thermionic means as for instance an electron tube or a uni-laterally conductive, valve tube of the incandescent cathode type. Broadly stated, as a voltage regulator, a filament of the valve which serves as the source of electronstherefore, is suitabl connected to be subject to the varytage of the dynamo-electric machine,

is suitably connected to a winding'or other *means which servesto maintain a proper field strength for voltage regulations at certain critical speeds and at'varyingloads.

A further object of this invention. is to provide a thermion c means in combination with a dynamo electricmachine and a battery whereby the charging of. the battery is controlled, the current to the battery being interrupted when same is fully charged, and the reverse flow to thegenerator being at the same time prevented. This is accomplished without the use of any me- .chanical moving parts, by utilizing the .unilateral conductlve property of the valve, togpther with the control feature. he invention consists in he arrangement and combination of-- devices',ucertain prac- "tical embodimentsof-Jwhich are- .'shown in the (accompanying drawings "hereinafter more fully described, and particularly set 91521 in the appended claims} the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and showing for example certain practical embodiments of the invention, similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts in the several views.

.2 Ifigure 1 is a diagram showing the application of a valve tube as a regulator for a plurality of independent windings are provided on an armature.

' Figure 3 is a diagram of a modified form in 'Bwhich a differential relay is used.

. 1 fied orm for e ec,ting control 0 the current for the incandescent cathode.

With reference'more particularly to' Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings showmg for example a practical embodiment of the invention, an armature -1 of a dynamo electric machine is shown together with positive. and negative terminals 2, 3, respectively therefor. A thermionic means, or a unrlaterally conductive valve tube 4 of 'the' incandescent cathode type is shown as comprising a filament cathode 5 having terminals 6 and 7 and an anodic-sheath, plate or like electrode 8. As shown, theffilament is connected in series with the shunt field winding 9 of the dynamo electric machine, one

terminal of the field 10 being connected with the positive terminal 2 of the dynamo, the

re 4 is a diagram showin a modi-i other terminal 7 of the filament 5 being connected with the negativ side 3 of the dynamo. Preferably, an adjustable resistance 11 is connected in shunt with the filament, soas to better effect control of the current therethrough. Across the main line terminals 12 and-13 is connected a storage battery 14, the positive terminal 15 is connected to the line wire 12, the other nega-' tive terminal 16 of the battery being connected w'ith theother line wire 13, and the common blade 17 of a. throw over switch including the two contacts 18 and 19, the

former of which is connected with anotheranodic plate element 20 'of the thermionic means, the contact 19 being connected with the negative terminal 3, of the generator through aseries winding 21. The purpose of the throw-over switch 17 to enable-the battery 11 to be suitably connected through the thermionic means with the generator for charging, as for instance when the switch is in the position indicated in Figure 1 in contact with 18, or to permit the battery 1% to be connected to the generator 1 which may be connected to a prime mover as for instance a gas engine, through the series field 21, so that the said battery may drive the dynamo 1 as a motor. In operation, when the switch 17 is in the position indicated in Figure 1, the filament 5 is connected in series with the shunt field 9, so that at a predetermined speed, the filament will become incandescent, causing electrons to be emitted, which will enable a current to pass through the anode 8 and a counter winding 22, which winding is arranged to magnetically oppose the shunt winding 9. Thus, up to a certain speed excitation of the field coil 9 increases in the usual manner in shunt dynamos, but when this current reaches a certain value the cathode filament 5 in serieswith the field coil 9 or other suitable resistance, becomes increasingly incandescent, which in turn increases the conductivity through the anode. plate 8, enabling an increased current to flow through the counterwinding 22 which prevents further increase in field excitation. It is to be understood that the relative strength of the shunt winding 9 and the counter winding 22 may be varied, so that they may be so proportioned that the counter winding 22 may entirely neutralize a tendency of the shunt field winding to increase the field excitation. Thus it may be possible to maintain a relatively constant voltage at or above a given predetermined speed. If the speed and voltage on open circuit be plotted as a graph, the voltage approaches a certain limit asymptotically.

As shown in Figure 1, the battery 14 will be charged through the plate 20, which functions to prevent any reverse flow of current if the dynamo is stopped, or the battery becomes charged, but becomes conductive in the charging directions when the machine obtains thec'orrectspeed,or when the battery be comes partially discharged. It is thus seen.

than an automatic cut-ofi' for a battery current is'provided without the use of any mechanically moving parts. By the use of a bianodal valve, voltage regulation and battery control are effected. By the provision of a throw-over switch to insert a series winding, it is possible to use the battery as a starter for a rime mover as for instance a gas engine,'w ich may be connected to the dynamo.

A modified form of the circuits is shown in Figure 2, in which an armature is provided with a plurality of independent windings 23-24, each winding being connected with a separatepair of brushes25, 26 and 27, 28 respectively, one of the windings 23 being connected with the line terminals 12 and 13 of the output circuit, the other winding 24 being connected to the shunt field winding 9 through the filament 5 of the valve tube at, the positive brush 2? also being connected to one end of the counter winding 22, the other end of the counter winding being connected with the anodic plate 8. The other plate 20 is connected to the battery 14; through the contact 18 and circuit closer 17. The negative brushes 2S and 26 of the respective windings may be connected by the conductor 29. The series field 21 may be connected to the contact 19 of the throw-over switch so that the series field properly wound may be used if desired in the manner above noted in connection with Figure 1. By providing the two independent windings 23 and 24, the latter is preterably of a higher voltage than the winding supplying the output circuit, so that it would enable less current to be used for the field control and excitation and hence a lower amperage valve can be used. By connecting the negative brushes of the doubly wound armature, such an arrangement permits the bi-anodal valve to be used for both battery current and field current control. If desired, it is possible to connect the two wint lings 23 and 24 in series, in which case the positive brush 2? would be connected directly with the main terminal 12, and the terminal of the shunt winding connected with the positive brush 25, the resistance and turns being suitably proportioned- The negative brush 28 may be connected to the positive brush 25, as indicated by the dotted conductor 30, and the cathode 5 would be connected to the negative brush 26.

Another modified method of connecting the anode is shown in Figure 8, in which the shunt winding 9 is connected in series with a ballast resistance 31 which preferably is formed of a material having a positive temperature co-efiicient, which accentuates the action. The cathode 5 may be suitably connected through an adjusting resistance 11 which may advantageously be composed of material having a negative temperature coefiicient. The anodic plate 8 is connected to wjunction point32 between the-ballast rer sistance 31 and the shunt winding 22. The action of such an arrangement being that when the filament 5 reaches incandescence, and the valve becomes conductive, an in.- creased current passes from the plate 8 through the ballast resistance 31 to the generator, which consequently causes a voltage drop across the field winding 9, thus preventing an increase of field strength with increase of speed, and maintaining a relatively, constant voltage. The connections of the battery switch and series winding may be arranged as previously set forth, so no reffected at or above certaln speeds.

.ing from the spirit and scopeot'this invenand an anode,

.erence is here specifically madethereto. If

cally connect the battery in a well knownmanner with the dynamo when the voltage is sufiicient, and will disconnect the same on aslight reversal of current. Such an ar,- rangement eliminates the necessity of having to carry the battery charging current through the valve, thus eliminating a voltage drop across the valve.

A modified form of valve arrangement is shown in Figure 4:, in which a plurality of valves 34: and 34 are shown, a suitable adjusting resistance 35 being connected in series with one of the filaments 36, the said series circuit being arranged in parallel with the filament 5 of the other valve 34, such a circuit in turn beingconnected in shunt with the adjustable resistance 11'. Such an arrangement. having a plurality "of valves 3434f eachv having an anodic plate electrode 8 and 37 respectively, may be arranged in place of the bi-anodal valve used in the circuit heretofore referred to. V

' If desired, the valves having the filament therein may advantageously be used to serve as signal lamps, by mounting in a suitable uard casing in front of the pilot or driver 1n automobiles, boats, airplanes, and the like. I

It is thus seen that by the use of the valves as herein set forth, for purposespof regulation, that relatively constant voltage is ef- This is efi'ected primarily by utilizing the variable conductive properties of the valve;

It is to be understood that any of the well known valves of the incandescent cathode type may either be exhausted or filled with gases such as argon, neon or helium; It is ,to be further understoodthat the thermionic means for efiecting'voltage regulation is not limited to the charging ofv batteries, shown as one illustrative example of the application, it being understood that "it-may have various' other applications.

While certain practical embodimentsof the invention have herein been shown, it is to be understood that various changesand. modifications may be made without departtion.

1 Having thus described my invention,

hat I claim as new and desireto'secure by tters Patent, is; c

1'. The combination oi a current "generating means having a shunt field, a thermionic means having a cathode and an anode, aballast resistance connected in series w1th the shunt field, and a second'resistance, the sec be provided, and that they may this merely beingv 0nd resistance being connected in series with the cathode, the anode being connected to a point between the ballast resistance and the shunt field whereby at a. predetermined :voltage there will be an increase of current through the anode and the ballast resistance, thus causing a change in the voltage across the shunt field to maintain a relatively constant voltage at the terminals of the generating means independent of an increase in speed. 1 v

2. The combination of a generater having a shunt field, a resistance in series with the field, and a thermionic means having an incandescent cathode connected across the generator, and an anode plate connected at a point between the shunt field andresistance in series therewith, whereby with increased generated voltage, a decreased drop across the shunt field is effected, thus maintaining a substantially constant voltage'at and above a certain speed.

3. The combination of a dynamo, a shunt field winding,- each other shunted across the terminals the dynamo, and charge device having a filament shunted a thermionic electron dis- 1 and a resistance in ,serieswith across the'terminals of the dynamo, said defvice having an anode connected to the circuit containing the shuntwinding.

4. In combination, a dynamo electric ma chine, athermionic discharge deyice having a filament and an anode, a shunt field .winding, and aresistance in series with each other, the filament of the -thermionic device V beingvshunted across the terminals of the dynamo, and the shunt winding and series resistances being also shunted across the terminals of'the dynamo, the anode of-the thermionic device being connected to a point he tween the shunt winding and its series resistance.

chine, a thermionic discharge device having a pair of electrodes, a shunt winding an'dv' fa resistance in series with each other, one elect-'- trode of the thermionic device being connected across the terminals of the dynamo, .the shunt winding and the series'resistance also being connected; across the terminal's'j'of 5. In combination, a dynamo electric na- 6:- In combination;""a*dynamo.electric a fflacross the termln'als of the dynamo",ii,'shunt winding 'and a resistance in seriesAyv ith' each other and shunted. across the .ierminals of the dynamo, the anode'of the thermionic de-- vice being connected to a point between the shunt winding and the series resistance, and an adjustable resistance in series with the filament.

7. In combination, a dynamo electric machine, a shunt winding and a series resistance connected acrossthe terminals thereof said series resistance having a positive 00- eflicient of resistance, a thermionic device having a filament and an anode, the filament being connected across the terminals of the dynamo in series with the second resistance, said second resistance having a negative 00- efficient of resistance, the anode of the thermionic device being connected to a point between the shunt Winding and its series resistance.

' WILLIAM JOHN RICKETS. 

